The scale of a show like next week's Electronic Entertainment Expo is such that it's impossible to see absolutely everything on display. Even if you eliminate the obvious licensed shovelware and copycat mobile games and the like, there's still way more being shown than any one person can effectively take in during a two-and-a-half day span. With that in mind, I've already begun narrowing down the list of items I'm most excited to see and hear more about at this year's show. Here are some quick thoughts on just a few of the things I'm most looking forward to seeing next week.

Wii U

I was probably more impressed than most with my first experience with the Wii U at last year's E3. The short demos on hand did a good job of showing off the potential of the unorthodox tablet-controller-and-TV combo, from a game of hide-and-seek where the tablet provided a crucial overhead view to a rhythm game where the screen acted as an augmented reality shield of sorts. I was especially impressed with a Metroid-themed demo that combined the tablet controller's dual analog sticks and its tilt-sensitive viewpoint to create a seamless, intuitive 3D flight interface.

But none of the demos I saw last year came across as the kind of killer app that Nintendo is going to need to really sell gamers and the general public on the Wii U's odd concept. As elegant and inventive as the demos were, none of them had the head-smacking simplicity and instant appeal of a game like Wii Sports, or the essential mixture of old and new provided by Super Mario Galaxy. With the system expected to launch before the end of the year, I'll be looking out for evidence of that killer app that can really sell the Wii U to a skeptical public.

The Last of Us

The Last of Us trailer

With the Uncharted series, the developers at Naughty Dog have proven that they can handle the wise-cracking, charismatic, action-film hero just fine. The Last of Us seems poised to take that cinematic experience and refocus it on a story with a bit more pathos and real emotion. That might sound ambitious for the latest game to set itself in a post-apocalyptic world infested with zombies, but by focusing on how survivors Joel and Ellie cling together amidst threats both undead and very much alive, the game seems poised to be the thinking man's survival horror story.

A video preview of the game that I saw at a pre-E3 event did a good job of setting up an ever-present feeling of tension in an exquisite, ruined world, weaving well-written antagonists in with inventive, high-octane fights that had a lot more impact than the standard third-person shooting gallery. I can't wait to get my hands on a controller at E3 to see if those feelings hold up when the game is actually playable.

Halo 4

You'd think at this point we'd know what to expect from yet another game in the well-established Halo franchise, but with the next game in the series being the first produced without the support of series creator Bungie, I'm hoping the new developers at 343 Industries will shake up the formula with some new ideas. While it's very possible that the game will be more of the same, the series' prominence has me excited about its ability to introduce some new concepts to the increasingly tired first-person shooter genre.

Quantum Conundrum

Quantum Conundrum trailer

I've seen this game a few times at preview events of various sorts, but it really seems to be coming together now that E3 is approaching. As the latest brainchild of Portal creator Kim Swift, it's not that surprising that Quantum Conundrum mixes puzzles and platforming with a somewhat twisted plot pushed along by an unseen, unreliable narrator. The key gameplay conceit is the ability to shift the environment into different dimensions that play with the force of gravity or the speed of time, leading to some truly inventive puzzles that require a lot of outside-the-box thinking to solve.

Dishonored

Dishonored trailer

If you can watch the above trailer for Dishonored without getting excited about the game's strong sense of character and place, I'm not sure we can be friends anymore. I can't actually say much more about precisely why I'm excited for this stealth-heavy first-person shooter just yet, but look for full impressions next week.

Epic Mickey 2

Epic Mickey 2 trailer

The problems with camera controls and gameplay design in the first Epic Mickey were enough to overwhelm what I thought were some pretty clever artistic decisions in reimagining a new world for some of Disney's most famous characters. The sequel is being described as a full "video game musical," which brings to mind personal favorite Space Channel 5 in a very good way. Add in drop-in co-op play, characters with fully spoken dialogue, and HD graphics on the Xbox 360 and PS3, and it looks like this sequel might actually be a game that's worthy of its setting and characters.

Surprises!

There are a surprising number of slots on my E3 schedule this year that simply read "unannounced game from [publisher X]." While some of these games will no doubt be duds, I'm hoping a few of them will be able to really show me something different from the dozens of "me too" shooters and action games.

What are you looking forward to (or even dreading) from E3? Let us know in the comments.

Kyle Orland
Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area. Emailkyle.orland@arstechnica.com//Twitter@KyleOrl